Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for removing redundant data from a storage system. In one example, a data delineation process delineates data targeted for de-duplication into regions using a plurality of markers. The de-duplication system determines which of these regions should be subject to further de-duplication processing by comparing metadata representing the regions to metadata representing regions of a reference data set. The de-duplication system identifies an area of data that incorporates the regions that should be subject to further de-duplication processing and de-duplicates this area with reference to a corresponding area within the reference data set.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for removing redundant data from a storage system. In one example, a data delineation process delineates data targeted for de-duplication into regions using a plurality of markers. The de-duplication system determines which of these regions should be subject to further de-duplication processing by comparing metadata representing the regions to metadata representing regions of a reference data set. The de-duplication system identifies an area of data that incorporates the regions that should be subject to further de-duplication processing and de-duplicates this area with reference to a corresponding area within the reference data set.

Abstract: A method for removing redundant data from a backup storage system is presented. In one example, the method may include receiving the application layer data object, selecting a de-duplication domain from a plurality of de-duplication domains based at least in part on a data object characteristic associated with the de-duplication domain, determining that the application layer data object has the characteristic and directing the application layer data object to the de-duplication domain.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient storage of data are provided. For instance, a method that includes acts of receiving a data stream to be stored on a first storage system, the data stream comprising a data object and metadata that describes attributes of the data object, extracting the metadata from the data stream, storing the data object on the first storage system and storing the extracted metadata, separately from the data object, on a computer-readable medium is disclosed. Additionally, a storage system is disclosed that includes a first storage medium, an interface configured to receive a data stream including a data object to be stored on the first storage medium and a controller. The controller may be configured to extract metadata from the data stream, the metadata being descriptive of attributes of the data object, and to direct the extracted metadata to be stored on a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: In a back-up storage system, an apparatus and methods for mounting a data volume corresponding to a back-up data set to a host computer. In one example, a method includes mounting a data volume on a host computer, the data volume comprising at least one data file, the data file corresponding to a most recently backed-up version of the at least one data file stored on a backup storage system, and storing, on the backup storage system, data corresponding to a second version of the at least one data file that is more recent than the most recently backed-up version of the at least one data file stored on the backup storage system while preserving the most recently backed-up version of the at least one data file.

Abstract: A method comprising acts of creating a full back-up data set comprising a first plurality of data files, creating at least one incremental back-up data set comprising a second plurality of data files, determining a most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files, storing a plurality of indicators, each indicator identifying a storage location in one of the full back-up data set and the at least one incremental back-up data set of the most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files and creating a synthetic full back-up data set that corresponds to the most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files based upon the plurality of indicators.

Abstract: A method comprising acts of creating a full back-up data set comprising a first plurality of data files, creating at least one incremental back-up data set comprising a second plurality of data files, determining a most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files, storing a plurality of indicators, each indicator identifying a storage location in one of the full back-up data set and the at least one incremental back-up data set of the most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files and creating a synthetic full back-up data set that corresponds to the most recent copy of each data file of the first and second pluralities of data files based upon the plurality of indicators.

Abstract: An auxiliary controller is interposable intermediate a data source (such as one or more computers or one or more mass storage devices) and a data sink (such as one or more mass storage devices or one or more computers) to provide additional operations on s the data as desired without interfering with the transmission of data between the source and sink.

Abstract: The present invention combines IP multicasting mechanisms with SCSI protocols to achieve a more efficient data replication or data mirroring scheme. The combination of the IP multicast mechanism with the mapping of virtual unit logical number to real logical unit numbers, combined with the use of SCSI response frames, ensures the integrity of multicasted data. By use of the SCSI protocol over the TCP/IP according to the present invention, there is no further need to transfer multiple copies of the same data on the same communication link, and the routing logic may be removed from initiator and targets to IP routers.

Abstract: A system and method is described for use in the propagation of cross-platform updates of databases in, for example, an Enterprise system. Given that these platforms may be operating using different operating systems and database software, the system and method are not application dependent. The system and method effect the cross-platform propagation of updates through the use of I/O streams. Accordingly, the system and method do not use valuable and expensive CPU cycles nor excessively load the TCP/IP communication lines to perform the desired cross-platform propagation of updates for platform databases.

Abstract: Systems and methods of servicing requests of a first file system communicated in accordance with a first storage protocol using a storage system that is responsive to requests communicated according to a second storage protocol and that is organized in accordance with a second file system. Among other things, this allows the use of potentially more reliable and robust storage systems for holding information of the first file system and allows potentially more reliable and robust management tools to manage the information of the first file system.

Abstract: The disclosed device, system and methods of data management facilitate the implementation of improved mirroring, back-up, volume remapping and extent relocation, among others. The disclosed intelligent I/O stream splitter may intercept and alter an I/O stream from a communications link. In the case of mirroring, the intelligent splitter may intercept write commands and associated data from a mainframe that target a specific storage location on a specific control unit. The splitter may then transmit the intercepted I/O stream to the targeted control unit and storage location over one link and transmit on another link an altered version of the intercepted I/O stream to another control unit, which is responsible for holding a mirrored version of the data. The altered version could have the same data as that on the one link, or may include new frame headers, changes to the control information, or changes to the data itself.